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Arboretum News

Early Migrants

SUNDAY, MARCH 29, 2015 :: NATURALISTS’ NOTES

We strolled out on this windy Sunday afternoon in search of some “early birds,” migrants back from warmer climes to get a jump start on the growing season. With rumors of wood ducks and bluebirds, we set out to find these and any others that may have recently made the ... Read more »

Public tour The Awakening Land

SUNDAY, MARCH 22, 2015 :: NATURALISTS’ NOTES

A couple of years ago, we cribbed the name for this annual tour from Conrad Richter’s trilogy about pioneer life in the Midwest. It ... Read more »

Spring Is Prescribed Fire Season

THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015 :: NEWS

The spring prescribed fire season is getting underway at the Arboretum. Most of Wisconsin’s ecosystems are fire dependent, and prescribed fire simulates the role historically ... Read more »

Bumble Bee Conservation and Citizen Science

TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2015 :: NEWS

Spring is here, and soon new bumble bee queens will emerge from their overwintering sites—and Arboretum staff will be watching for them, ready to renew our bumble bee citizen science project. Read more »

Walking in Leopold’s Footsteps

SUNDAY, MARCH 8, 2015 :: NATURALISTS’ NOTES

How can anyone walk in Aldo Leopold’s footsteps, especially here at the UW Arboretum where his ideas are written large upon the landscape? How do ... Read more »

Call for Artists: Arboretum Steinhauer Trust Gallery Exhibits 2016

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015 :: NEWS

The Arboretum is now accepting proposals for artwork to hang in the Visitor Center gallery in 2016. The deadline is March 15, 2015. A juried ... Read more »

Arboretum Is Recruiting Volunteer Restoration Team Leaders

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015 :: NEWS

Restoration team leaders are an essential corps of land care volunteers. They teach and supervise other volunteers at weekly restoration work parties. Apply by March 16 – the Arboretum’s extensive training program begins in late March. Read more »

Winter Birds Walk

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2015 :: NATURALISTS’ NOTES

Last Sunday we got our first major snow storm of this winter. Starting early that day it continued to snow and blow all day and ... Read more »

UW-Madison Arboretum Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2015 :: NEWS

UPDATED 2/5/15. In February 2015, Emerald Ash Borer has been confirmed on the south side of Madison, including in areas neighboring the Arboretum’s west side. Field staff continue to monitor the property for signs of the insect. Read more »

Winter Wonders – Naturalists’ Notes

SUNDAY, JANUARY 25, 2015 :: NATURALISTS’ NOTES

Winter can seem a bit drab – especially if you are pining for summer wildflowers. The colors of winter are a bit more subtle, but ... Read more »

Winter Water – Naturalists’ Notes

SUNDAY, JANUARY 18, 2015 :: NATURALISTS’ NOTES

Our purpose on this tour was to discover some of the forms water assumes in winter. Read more »

Arboretum Hiring a Curator for Longenecker Horticultural Gardens

FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015 :: NEWS

The UW–Madison Arboretum is hiring a curator for Longenecker Horticultural Gardens! LHG is Wisconsin’s premier collection of woody ornamental plants – an unparalleled resource for teaching, study, and public enjoyment. Read more »

Phenology Walk – Naturalists’ Notes

SUNDAY, JANUARY 4, 2015 :: NATURALISTS’ NOTES

Public tour – “Phenology” – 4th January, 2015
Informally, I have been known to define “phenology” as “the art and science of noticing things in nature”. ... Read more »

Glacial Geology of the Arboretum – Naturalists’ Notes

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2014 :: NATURALISTS’ NOTES

Want to find a hot spot to get your fill of glacial geology? Dane County is the place you want to be. Drumlins, kettles, ground ... Read more »

Conifers – Naturalists’ Notes

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2014 :: NATURALISTS’ NOTES

Seventeen people strolled among the conifers in Longenecker Gardens on the afternoon of 2014’s winter-solstice day. The temperature was cordial, for this time of ... Read more »

Winter Birds – Naturalists’ Notes

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2014 :: NATURALISTS’ NOTES

Is this winter or late fall? The heavy fog, wet brown ground and 40 F temperatures feel more to me like fall. Even the calendar ... Read more »

Although I realize that my actual chance of seeing a bobcat is slim-to-none, I admit that I am unreasonably excited about recent reports of bobcat ... Read more »

Civilian Conservation Corps – Naturalists’ Notes

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2014 :: NATURALISTS’ NOTES

A hearty dozen visitors showed up for the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) tour on a cold late fall day with a few inches of snow ... Read more »

Autumn Woodland Walk – Naturalists’ Notes

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2014 :: NATURALISTS’ NOTES

Considering the unseasonably cold weather forecast for the upcoming week, our tour conditions today were pleasant with calm winds and partly sunny skies.
On our way ... Read more »

Land Care Report: Why We Are Seeing More Woody Species in Curtis Prairie

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014 :: NEWS

Over the last few years we have fielded many questions regarding woody vegetation on Curtis Prairie. Unfortunately, the increase represents a global trend that has become apparent to ecologists and land managers over the last 10–15 years. Read more »

Woodland Walk – Naturalists’ Notes

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2014 :: NATURALISTS’ NOTES

Sunday was a very high-use day at the Arboretum. The parking lots were overflowing. Cameras were snapping left and right. Joggers and walkers and bikers ... Read more »

Earth Partnership receives NSF grant

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2014 :: EARTH PARTNERSHIP FOR SCHOOLS

The Arboretum’s Earth Partnership for Schools is delighted to announce that we have received a National Science Foundation Advancing Informal STEM grant for the Indigenous ... Read more »

Woodland Walk – Naturalists’ Notes

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2014 :: NATURALISTS’ NOTES

Sunday was a bustling day at the Arb. Three full trolleys, and a good group out for the Woodland Walk. Lots and lots of other ... Read more »

Grady Tract and Greene Prairie Tour – Naturalists’ Notes

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2014 :: NATURALISTS’ NOTES

The parade of autumn wildflowers on the Grady Tract features native asters with white, lavender, violet, and deep purple flowers (rays). Other flowers in the ... Read more »

Curtis Prairie Walk, Late Summer Flowers – Naturalists’ Notes

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2014 :: NATURALISTS’ NOTES

It was a warm 75 degree, sunny Sunday, September 7, when we headed out to Curtis Prairie connecting to trail A3 from the parking ... Read more »

Explore the Northern Rockies with Friends

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2014 :: FRIENDS OF THE ARBORETUM

Join Friends members on a tour of geologically carved, mountain encrusted and biologically diverse landscapes of the Northern Rocky Mountains. The wilderness aesthetics alone can ... Read more »

Research Brief: Surprises in Forest Succession

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2014 :: NEWS

Studying how forests change is a long-term commitment. Forest succession is the natural replacement of trees that do not tolerate shade with those that do. ... Read more »

Grady Tract/Greene Prairie Tour – Naturalists’ Notes

SUNDAY, AUGUST 31, 2014 :: NATURALISTS’ NOTES

On a warm sunny Sunday afternoon with a pleasant breeze sixteen of us headed into the Grady Tract to explore this south of the beltline ... Read more »

Friends Announce 2014 Leopold Restoration Award Winners

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2014 :: FRIENDS OF THE ARBORETUM

This year, the Leopold Restoration Awards program bestows four awards that recognize the outstanding contributions of private landowners who have transformed their land, shared what they have learned, and worked with professionals and volunteers to accomplish ecological restoration goals — and a career in ecological restoration that has enhanced land management. Read more »

Arboretum Presents “Living with the Land” Reading Series

MONDAY, AUGUST 25, 2014 :: NEWS

The Arboretum Bookstore is proud to announce the “Living with the Land” reading series, featuring appearances by local authors this fall.
The fee for each ... Read more »

Native Gardening Conference Teaches Benefits and Use of Native Plants in Home Landscapes

SUNDAY, AUGUST 24, 2014 :: PRESS RELEASES

The 2014 Native Gardening Conference, “Native by Design: Gardening for a Sustainable Future,” will be September 21, with expert-led demonstrations, workshops, tours, practical tips, information, and inspiration. Register by September 15. Read more »

Grady Tract/Greene Prairie Tour – Naturalists’ Notes

SUNDAY, AUGUST 17, 2014 :: NATURALISTS’ NOTES

The small parking lot at Seminole Highway and the West Beltline frontage road was filled to overflowing by 10 minutes to one o’clock on Sunday. ... Read more »

The Wingra Oak Savanna tour group left the starting point, at the parking lot on the corner of Monroe St. and Arbor Dr. and headed ... Read more »

Curtis Prairie Walk – Naturalists’ Notes

SUNDAY, AUGUST 3, 2014 :: NATURALISTS’ NOTES

85 degrees,
August on the prairie is the month of myriad yellow, purple and white floral displays, butterflies fluttering, bees buzzing, dragonflies darting and ... Read more »

Greene Prairie and the Grady Knolls Tour – Naturalists’ Notes

SUNDAY, JULY 27, 2014 :: NATURALISTS’ NOTES

The floral treats on the Greene Prairie right now are too numerous to mention. But I will try to hit the highlights.
We caught the ... Read more »

Special Event: Living a Land Ethic book reading with author Stephen Laubach

TUESDAY, JULY 15, 2014 :: NEWS

Stephen Laubach, who works at the Arboretum in the Earth Partnership program and does regional watershed conservation consulting, has recently published a book about the Leopold Memorial Reserve. Read more »

Friends 2015 Annual Meeting is June 6

MONDAY, JULY 14, 2014 :: FRIENDS OF THE ARBORETUM

The Friends will celebrate another year of providing interesting and enlightening programs, activities and trips for our members and financial and volunteer support for the ... Read more »

Curtis Prairie and Teal Pond Wetlands Tour – Naturalists’ Notes

SUNDAY, JULY 6, 2014 :: NATURALISTS’ NOTES

As a direct result of scouting for and leading this tour, and with the help of two different experts, I solved two mysteries – one ... Read more »

Greene Prairie and West Grady Knoll Tour – Naturalists’ Notes

SUNDAY, JUNE 29, 2014 :: NATURALISTS’ NOTES

This windy, sunny, Sunday afternoon before the 4th of July we were treated to a spectacular display of flower fireworks on the Grady prairies. Over ... Read more »

Invasive ‘Jumping Worm’ Found at Arboretum

THURSDAY, JUNE 26, 2014 :: NEWS

Amynthas agrestis, an invasive earthworm from temperate regions of Asia, was found in limited areas near the Visitor Center in fall 2013. The Arboretum is ... Read more »